Besides the tensioners..Is the SOHC a reliable engine???

[ChaoticBastard]

I remember the older 4.0's being notorious for head gaskets.Is there anything else on these SOHC engines that are prone to failure?And what kind of milage are you guys getting out of them?

 

[celly]

I've owned two ('97 and '00) and outside the tensioner issue (fixed under warranty on my '00, never surfaced in the two years I leased the '97), I found them to be VERY reliable.

I do prefer the V8 though (what I have now).

 

[ma96782]

And the 4.0L sohc, intake leaks...

Aloha, Mark

2nd Gen error codes 0171 and 0174:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=172289



And O rings on intakes:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=170707


http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=172451

 

[aldive]

I have 125k miles on my '99 SOHC and have never had a problem with the motor. It has never been back to the dealer since purchase.

I am very pleased with the motor.

 

[Sailingcal21]

I remember the older 4.0's being notorious for head gaskets.Is there anything else on these SOHC engines that are prone to failure?And what kind of milage are you guys getting out of them?

Got 220,000 miles on the engine in my 1995. Automatic transmissions suck, been through 3 of those.

 

[aldive]

Got 220,000 miles on the engine in my 1995. Automatic transmissions suck, been through 3 of those.

The question was about the SOHC motor.

 

[ChaoticBastard]

The question was about the SOHC motor.

I was thinking that myself.I checked my VIN on fords database and no recalls come up.Its been very very cold here and I dont have a hard time starting it or anything.So I will assume the repairs were done.Sometimes my idle seems a little low but thats about it.Thanks for all the replies

 

[CDW6212R]

Welcome there, I am just getting my 99 running(bought rolled). I did the engine work myself, do think of putting it at the top of your maintenance list. People who do the valvetrain work on the SOHC regularly will probably get more mileage than the OHV.

The percentage of those who risk doing nothing until engine damage will be high, the failures will give the SOHC an undeserved poor reputation. Good luck,

 

[410Fortune]

I would say yes they are a very reliable engine from what I have seen.
They have been around 10 years now and they have proven themselves

Fix the tensioner and intake leaks IF it has them and you are good to go.

 

[indecloudzUA]

i've owned two sohc('91,'00) explorers and one ohv('00)...i havent had any problems with the engines yet..(knock on wood) but did have tranny problems in the 91..